Chocolate Guinness Cupcakes with Vanilla Malt Frosting

If you’re
looking for something a little different to serve Dad for dessert on Father’s
Day, look no further.

These chocolate-stout
cupcakes have “dad” written all over them! The deep, complex flavor of stout
beer is an unexpected – yet perfect – complement to chocolate cupcakes, and the
alcohol burns off in the baking so everyone can partake!

A malt frosting
was the natural match for these cupcakes, and a simple garnish of a malted milk
ball finishes things off!

Chocolate Guinness Cupcakes with Vanilla Malt Frosting

Makes

12

12 cupcakes

Mealdessert

Prep

30m

30 minutes

Cook

25m

25 minutes

Total

55m

55 minutes

Ingredients:

FOR THE CUPCAKES:

6 tablespoons
butter, room temperature

1 cup sugar

2 eggs

1/2 cup sour
cream

1 teaspoon
vanilla

3/4 cup Guinness (or other stout beer), room temperature

1 1/4 cups flour

1/2 cup cocoa

1 teaspoon
baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

FOR THE FROSTING:

2 sticks butter, room temperature

1 cup confectioner's sugar

1/2 cup malted
milk powder

4 tablespoons
milk, plus more if needed

1 teaspoon
vanilla

pinch of salt

12 malted milk
balls

Directions:

1. Make the cupcakes: Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees; line a 12-cup cupcake pan with paper liners.

2. Beat the butter and sugar till light and fluffy. Add the eggs, sour cream, vanilla and Guinness and beat again. Add the dry ingredients and beat just till combined.

3. Fill the liners about 2/3 and bake for 20 - 25 minutes, or till a toothpick tests clean. Cool in the pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes, then remove from pan to cool completely.

4. Make the frosting: Beat the butter and sugar till light and fluffy. Add the malted milk powder and beat again. Add 4 tablespoons milk and the vanilla and beat again, adding more milk if needed (a little at a time) to achieve a proper piping consistency.

5. Transfer the frosting to a piping bag or heavy duty ziploc bag, fitted with a pastry tip if desired. Frost the cupcakes and top each with a malted milk ball. Keep refrigerated till ready to serve.